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(Tampa, FL) -- "Be a Good Sport" was the clear message to Rays fans as the Rays
host thier first World Series. Throughout the season, the Tampa Bay Rays,
Major League Baseball, Anheuser-Busch and the TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management)
Coalition joined forces to get the word out to fans about the importance of responsible drinking
and always using a designated driver.
TEAM Coalition - an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities,
concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and
others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports
facilities – coordinated “Responsibility Has Its Rewards,” a league-wide promotion with Major
League Baseball in support of existing designated-driver programs sponsored by concessionaires
and brewers. TEAM and its partners are educating fans about the importance of drinking responsibly
and always buckling up and designating a driver.
Approximately 340,000 fans pledged to be designated drivers during the season. About 1,600 Tampa Bay fans participated in the Good Sport
designated-driver program offered at Tropicana Field through a partnership with Anheuser-Busch and
Centerplate. From those participants, one lucky designated driver for the season – Donald Burns
of Tampa Bay, FL – was selected.
When the Rays hosted Game One of the World Series, Donald and a guest were at Tropicana Field. A secondary prize of a trip to the 2009 All-Star Game® at Busch Stadium in St.
Louis will be awarded to one of the 28 designated drivers for the season whose team does not play
in the World Series®.
“Tying ‘Responsibility Has Its Rewards’ to our season-long ‘Good Sport’ program makes everyone
a winner,” said Carol Clark, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch
Companies, Inc. “We’re pleased to work with TEAM, the Tampa Bay Rays and Major League Baseball to
recognize Rays fans who look out for each other and make a designated driver part of their
game plan. When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
“This promotion is an opportunity for MLB to show support for the clubs’ efforts in coordination
with the concessionaire, brewer, and beer wholesaler to encourage responsible fan behavior.
And for the fans, it’s a great reminder that responsibility really does have its rewards,”
said Jill Pepper, executive director of the TEAM Coalition.
"Fan safety in the ballpark has always been a top priority for Major League Baseball," said
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "We believe this is an excellent program that emphasizes
fans' safety to and from the ballpark."
“We want everyone to make the right play for the World Series® just like they did in Spring
Training and throughout the regular season,” said Pepper.” Designating a driver should be
part of every baseball fan’s game-day experience, whether it’s April, July, or October.”
If you are attending a World Series® game or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:
- Be a designated driver or designate your driver before the game begins.
- Give your designated driver your car keys and your appreciation for making
sure you get home safely.
- Find unique ways to recognize the designated drivers when you are out at a bar or restaurant:
- Offer to be the designated driver the next time you go out;
- Cover the cost for parking or even pay for a tank of gas;
- Whatever non-alcoholic beverage they are drinking, make sure their glass is always full;
- Pick up the tab for their food and drink.
- Before you go out, program the numbers for local cab companies in your cell phone
so if you find yourself in need of a ride, it’s just one touch away.
- Pace yourself—eat enough food, take breaks and alternate alcohol beverages with non-alcoholic drinks.
- Remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. If you think someone may be inclined to drive when
they shouldn’t, take the keys.
- Always buckle up – every trip, every time. It’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
For more information, please visit www.TeamCoalition.org or
www.rhir.org.
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